[June 18, 2014]BRASILIA (Reuters) - U.S. Vice
President Joe Biden might not have resolved a diplomatic spat with
Brazil over American espionage, but he got a kick out of seeing the
United States soccer team win their first World Cup game.

"Watching the United States win last night was a great thrill
for us," Biden told reporters on Tuesday hours after seeing the
Americans defeat Ghana 2-1.

Biden brought his soccer-playing granddaughter and a nephew with
him to Monday's game. "I'm the favorite grandfather in the
family right now," he joked.

Biden met with Brazil President Dilma Rousseff to try to reboot
U.S.-Brazilian relations that have been on hold since documents
leaked last year by former National Security Agency contractor
Edward Snowden revealed that Washington had spied on Rousseff
and other world leaders.

Host Brazil has taken a lot of heat for the late delivery of
unfinished stadiums for the World Cup, but Biden praised the
Dunes arena in the north-eastern city of Natal.

"The stadium is absolutely beautiful and it met every
expectation," he said.

Biden visited the locker-room after the game and congratulated
the U.S. team, praising goalkeeper Tim Howard in particular.

"He played an incredible game last night," he said.

Biden knows Howard from the last World Cup in South Africa and
they agreed to meet again in 2018 in Russia.

"He will probably have the same job," Biden said. "I'm not sure
I will have the same one."